He demanded to know, so I had to kill him, explains manager

Brian Ford, a 52-year-old divisional director at Reading-based IT systems provider Quantixx, has defended his recent slaying of middle manager Karl Malone, 34, at his trial at the Old Bailey.

'Karl kept asking me why I sacked his friend Julie Marsh,' explained Ford. 'Instead of blathering about confidentiality or find excuses not to say what the lawyers wouldn't allow me to say, I said, Karl I could tell you but if I did I'd have to kill you.'

This stand-off continued for the best part of two hours on 27 April, after which Ford finally rose to his feet, pinned Malone to the wall and explained the reasons for Marsh's dismissal before stabbing him eight times with a bread knife and leaving him to bleed to death in the stairwell.

'He insisted, so I gave him what he wanted. I don't feel I should be on trial for murder,' said Ford. 'Anyway, the pictures she posted on the internet of the managing director getting a blow job from his secretary weren't even that good. Oh shit, now I'll have to kill you as well...'